Monday, July 4, 2011

To Believe or Not to Believe, That is the Question

One of the greatest examples of faith is found in the life of Abram, who was later given the name Abraham by God. He received a call from God...
Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3) Abram immediately responded. Keep in mind that Abram did not have a road map per se as we do today called the Bible. According to Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

The Apostle Paul also tells us of Abraham's great faith...
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed — God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." (Romans 4:13-18)

To operate in the grace that comes from God requires faith on our part. The Almighty, all knowing, Creator of everything seen and unseen who gives life to the dead and calls those thing which do not exist as though they did, will never fail accomplishing what He has promised. However, many time believers begin to doubt His call if they do not see it manifest immediately. As a pastor I have watched countless people do foolish things such as quit jobs and leave the very congregations that God had called them to because they received a call from God but would not wait on Him to make it happen. Even Abraham tried to help God by accepting Sarah's maid Hagar to have his child. But Abraham stayed the course. Paul goes on...
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Romans 4:19-22)

Wow...Abraham was called at age 75 and the promise of God did not manifest until he was 100, According to the natural realm, he and Sarah were beyond child bearing years plus Sarah was barren. However, God is almighty, and does according to His will and will fulfill His promise. God promised Abraham a son, so Abraham "did not consider his own body”. He did not give into unbelief, but was strengthened in faith being fully convinced that what God had promised He was able to perform. We must believe and act as though Gods Word is true!

Let’s be honest, there is so much scepticism in the church concerning God's will, and it's because most believers have been trained to doubt. The point is, Abraham is just one example of someone having great faith. Today we are very fortunate people to have a record (the Bible) of people who had faced incredible circumstances yet held their ground because of their unwavering faith in God. If the same scenario that was presented to Abraham was presented to most believers today, chances are that they would give in to doubt and abort the call of God due to their lack of faith. How do I know this? I listen to how believers talk and one of the greatest statements of doubt that I hear is, "If it be God's will." Sadly, this statement reflects doubt and ignorance by those who say they believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God and yet don't know His will. I want you to think about the following words that Jesus spoke...
"...when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

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